The price of a dental implant: factors to take into account
What is the price of a dental implant in Portugal? Even in 2025, this is one of the main questions that people seeking dental care want to be answered.
In fact, this is an advanced solution in the field of Oral Health, which enables:
- restore the functionality of the teeth;
- restore the smile;
- improve patients' quality of life and self-esteem.
The cost associated with this type of procedure varies greatly, involving various factors that need to be taken into consideration. So you need to know what a dental implant is, how it's placed, what the different types of implants are and their advantages.
Dental implants: what are they?
A dental implant is a medical device that replaces the root of a natural tooth. Made from a biocompatible material (mostly titanium), it can be placed in either the upper or lower jaw bone. This structure will serve as a support for crowns, bridges or dentures.
So anyone who has lost one or more teeth is a candidate for implants (with very few exceptions). This highly durable solution allows the functions of lost teeth to be restored:
- chewing:
- phonetics;
- aesthetics.
Missing teeth: main causes
According to Oral Health Barometer ( 2024)of the Portuguese Dental Association, about 65.7% of the Portuguese does not have complete dentition. There are several possible causes for the loss of natural teeth, the most common of which are:
- untreated caries;
- periodontal diseases;
- trauma to the teeth;
- poor oral hygiene.
If left untreated and untimely, missing teeth cause imbalances in the dental arches that can lead to jaw joint problems or even the loss of more teeth. On the other hand, the site of the missing tooth(s) will also trigger resorption of the jawbone where the tooth roots were implanted, with consequent bone loss.
How is dental implant surgery performed?
The placement of a dental implant involves several stages:
- Evaluation;
- Implantation surgery;
- Healing;
- Fitting dentures.
Dental implants are placed in the bone and this is usually a safe, simple, quick and painless surgical procedure.
This intervention always depends on the specificity of each case:
- Duration: around 30 to 60 minutes, one tooth (on average);
- Anaesthesia: local;
- Recovery: you can return to your routine immediately after the implant surgery.
After this surgery, there are some recommendations to follow: hard foods that could damage the implants should be avoided and all the doctor's instructions regarding oral hygiene should be followed. Check-ups are very important so that the dentist can follow up properly.
Then you have to wait for healing and consolidation. After some time, the implants become osseointegrated, i.e. the bone grows on the surface of the implant and the implant integrates into the bone.
Do implants hurt?
Nowadays, the placement of dental implants is a perfectly painless process. Using local anaesthesia, while the surgeon is doing his work, patients feel nothing. In the days that follow, the pain is easily controlled with the prescribed medication.
Advantages of dental implants:
Implants have several advantages, especially when compared to dentures:
- are fixed to the bone, so they are more natural and comfortable;
- fit our anatomy precisely;
- have a high success rate;
- improve masticatory function;
- reduce the risk of developing cavities in adjacent teeth;
- allow for better bone maintenance in areas without teeth;
- reduce sensitivity in adjacent teeth;
- don't need to be removed and cleaned every night;
- can last for many years;
- improve the ability to eat naturally, appearance, confidence and quality of life.
The price of dental implants
So how much does a dental implant cost? Nowadays, innovation and versatility in this area make it possible to create "customised" solutions, guaranteeing both functional and aesthetic rehabilitation.
One of the factors that causes the price of dental implants to fluctuate the most is, of course, the number of teeth that may need to be replaced. We therefore have to evaluate different situations:
Single tooth implants - In cases where only one tooth is missing, or when the missing teeth are located in non-contiguous places, a single tooth implant is used. In this case, once the implant has consolidated, the corresponding crown is placed.
Bridge fixed to implants - In cases where several teeth are missing together (contiguous), this technique is used, which consists of a structure made up of several pieces joined together.
Full dentures - In the presence of extreme cases of edentulism (missing teeth), a complete arch can be rehabilitated on implants and thus proceed to a total dental implant.
In short, there are many factors that can influence the price of dental implants. Firstly:
- the complexity of each case;
- the dentist's experience;
- the quality of the materials used;
- the conditions of the clinic.
However, it's important to remember that price shouldn't be the only factor to consider. Oral health is extremely important and requires quality care. It is therefore essential to consult a competent, experienced professional who has been duly certified by the Portuguese Dental Association.
